Go Abroad Fund testimonials

Robert, a PhD student of Law, participated in the prestigious Bingham Cup, the world's largest inclusive rugby tournament held in Rome, Italy.  

Without the funds provided by the Go Abroad fund I would have had to drop out of the team selected to represent Edinburgh as it was not feasible financially for me to attend. The tournament transcends mere competition; it serves as a beacon of inclusivity, uniting LGBTQ+ rugby teams from across the globe in a celebration of diversity and unity. The Bingham Cup showcases athletic prowess and dismantles stereotypes, fostering a more accepting environment within the traditionally heteronormative world of sports. As an avid member of the Caledonian Thebans, Edinburgh’s inclusive rugby club, I am deeply invested in promoting diversity and acceptance within sports. This sense of belonging has been instrumental in maintaining my well-being throughout the most demanding periods of my doctoral journey. 

My participation in the Bingham cup held immense significance for me. It offered me a valuable respite during the final stages of my PhD, and provided me with an opportunity to recharge and rejuvenate amidst the stresses of writing up and also provided me  a unique networking platform, enabling me to connect with like-minded individuals who share a passion for inclusivity in sports. None of which would have been possible without the support of the Go Abroad fund. The overall tournament was a success as the team Won the Gladiator Cup tier of the tournament!

Josh, a psychology student, used the Go Abroad Fund to volunteer in the Algarve in Portugal at a summer programme for children and teenagers. 

The Algarve is a popular tourist destination which hides  a great deal of wealth disparity, youth involvement in gangs, and social care issues concerning children; the camp invites and sponsors children from many different backgrounds to have a fun week of activities, to learn about life and to feel seen and appreciated no matter their background.

It was so beneficial for me to be exposed to a foreign language environment, where my ability to speak Spanish and Portuguese in particular was helped massively. More importantly, working and communicating with children and young people through language and socioeconomic barriers was hugely advantageous for me as I pursue a degree and career in developmental psychology. Many children were brought in from orphanages and care institutions; some were profoundly autistic or victims of abuse; many had behavioural and conduct problems to be addressed. It was so fulfilling for me to understand how to handle and best support young people in these circumstances, while also gaining insight into what this could look like for me in the future. Moreover, a group of teens from underprivileged areas of Belfast (close to where I live) came for a week, and I was able to explore with them the hard realities of NI political violence, family responsibilities, drug and alcohol use and paramilitary organisations — these are areas dear to my heart as I long to see young people freed from the vicious cycle of generational trauma in my local area.

Georgina, a Chinese language student, spent 6 weeks studying Mandarin at Tamkang University in Taipei, Taiwan. 

We studied at the central Taipei campus, which was a lot of fun as after class we could explore Taipei or even go on daytrips around the north coast of Taiwan. The program included extracurricular activities outside of our regular classes where we would take cultural trips, culture classes (such as learning calligraphy and stamp making), and teach children about UK culture. As a Chinese language student at Edinburgh, the experience was really helpful because it allowed me to use Mandarin practically in day-to-day conversation. I have noticed huge progress in my Mandarin and am excited to return to Edinburgh to improve further. One of my favourite memories was when we went out for traditional Taiwanese food with everyone in our dorm and our councillor, we fit all eighteen of us round one table and ordered a huge amount of food. I had an amazing 6 weeks and I would recommend it to anybody!

With the help of the Go Abroad Fund, Julia, who studies medicine, hiked the GR20 trail. 

I undertook the trail on the French island of Corsica in summer 2024. Through the experience I learned a lot about mental resilience and managing extreme weather conditions, both of which will be invaluable to any future applications to a career in expedition medicine. During my time on the trail there was a large gastroenteritis epidemic, and a hiker I had met several days earlier took very ill. I was able to provide her with basic medical first aid and liaise with the helicopter paramedics to ensure her safety and wellbeing on board the helicopter. This was an exceptionally formative experience and showed me the responsibility that comes with being a medical student, as well as the reality of providing medical support in remote environments, where for a time you are the only source of aid. This experience was invaluable to me, and has definitely made me better appreciate the complexities of being a doctor on an expedition.

With the help of the Go Abroad Fund, Cristina, a civil engineering student, worked with the EcoSwell NGO based in Lobitos, Peru as a volunteer intern on the water and sanitation team. 

With this team, I mainly worked on the groundwater monitoring initiative using geophysical instruments such as resistivity and seismic units to monitor the depth and salinity of the groundwater. With this project, EcoSwell aims to map out the optimal location for a future freshwater well for the surrounding vulnerable and water-stressed communities.

Given that this project was realized in person in Peru and I am fluent in Spanish, I also helped empower the community and involve them in the initiative through presentations and workshops. Overall, through this experience I learned a lot about geophysical instruments for groundwater surveying which helped develop my technical and engineering skills but also I mostly learned how to involve the local vulnerable communities in the projects by simplifying complex concepts for them to understand. I also gained a lot of personal and cultural growth from  interacting with the locals and hearing their water-stressed stories.  Lastly, I learned that working with small local communities, a lot of patience is required and a strong voice to lure them to want to be actively involved in the local projects.

Overall, volunteering with EcoSwell was one of the most enriching experiences of my life. I was able to contribute much of my engineering skills with the projects while also learning a lot of new things through hands-on experience and testing. However, the most impactful experience for me was that which involved co-living with the other volunteers coming from various parts of the world in a sustainably run home with the same living conditions as the locals, e.g. using composting, limiting water use due to the water stress in the town, showering with cold water, and using a dry toilet. This specially allowed me to value the importance of running water and how lucky I am to have it on a daily basis without any worry back in my home country. I noticed this was very important as the main project I was working on was aiming to help the water stress situation and I was able to involve myself more personally and relate to the locals more. Additionally, I was able to experience the local lifestyle and interact with locals which allowed me to develop my cultural knowledge and people skills as I listened to their stories and engaged in helping the local economy. In my free time I was able to take surf lessons, go on fishing trips, go out to dinner with my coworkers and the staff and even helped the locals paint their fishing boats. I can happily say I left the internship a changed and grown person on an educational level and personal level with new friendships and recognizing the profound beauty within vulnerable communities when you immerse yourself in their way of life.

Clara, a first-year PhD student studying glaciology, used the Go Abroad Fund to attend the International Summer School in Glaciology, a non-credited, 10-day summer course hosted by the University of Alaska Fairbanks in the remote town of McCarthy, Alaska. 

McCarthy is rich in history and culture, and right at the foot of the Wrangell-St Elias National Park, home of dozens of Alaskan glaciers and a rich wildlife. For 10 days, I camped outside the village of McCarthy together with 27 other glaciology students from all over the world. We attended lectures hosted by world-renowned glaciologists, discussed current research topics and problems, and went on day trips to a nearby glacier. I have learnt so much about current research in my field, and most importantly, I have been able to meet, get to know, and spend time with people who are as passionate about glaciology as I am. The opportunity to attend the International Summer School in Glaciology has been an important gateway for me into the international glaciological community, and the first time I've felt truly connected to people in my field outside of the University. I know the connections I made will last a lifetime, and be an important network for me throughout my PhD, and beyond. Furthermore, I'll always carry with me an unforgettable hike to the nearby Root Glacier, and a visit to its magical ice cave! Being able to see, feel, and experience glaciers like those I study on a daily basis feels like a truly special experience.

Joyce, a PhD student of Education, attended the 16th European Sociological Association (ESA) Conference 2024 in Porto, Portugal. 

The European Sociological Association (ESA) Conference is an international conference for researchers from across the world and over 4000 social scientists attended this year’s conference. I joined the conference and shared the findings of my research with a diverseaudience of intellectuals and a wider community of international experts. I received insightful contributions/feedback that would be used to improve my current research. Furthermore, I had the opportunity to meet researchers in my area of research and initiated networking connections with some academic peers and experts I will contactfor future collaborative research. I have also developed new research ideas after participating in discussions and joining sessions in areas that were not my major research focus. 

In addition to the many academic benefits of this activity, my exposure to the Portuguese language, the interaction with the wonderful locals of Porto, the boat trip on the beautiful Duoro River and the bus ride on the Blue Line to tour major parts of the city were delightful perks I enjoyed as part of my activity. These left an indelible positive impression that I wish others would also get the opportunity to experience. Given the challenges I faced in securing funds for this conference and thesignificance of this conference for my academic journey and personal development, I am profoundly grateful to the SWAY team for making every experience possible through the Go Abroad Fund.